Closed [Endrykas] Tis a Gathering (Jez)

[Nastaran Riverwalker]

5th of Winter, 512 AV

The sun was barely climbing the sky when Nastaran finished setting up her tent and assisting her family with theirs. She was allowed a few hours to explore the great gathering of her kind before returning for more hard work. The air was alive with life and sound as horses, livestock and people mingled between the great tents, swapping items and stories and greetings. Nastaran could not help but feel excited; she loved making camp in the moving 'city' of Endrykas.

After making sure her strider, Hansuul was comfortable and safe, Nastaran set out to explore her surroundings with her simple cloak wrapped tightly around her. While this was mainly a mission of curiosity, food and supplies were on the to-do list and she needed to stock up for the coming weeks. At the age of twenty and unmarried, her parents had decided that Nastaran's independent spirit should provide her own supplies. New winter clothes were a necessity, especially with winter upon them and it was not a kind guest.

Nastaran approached the venders' tents and gazed at all the meats, fruits and grains. The smells were heavenly and her stomach became something like a wild animal within her. She quickly moved on, not wanting to torture her stomach when she had some food waiting for her at her tent. The next items she came across were the clothing. Clothing lined with fur caught her attention and she was busy admiring a lovely fur lined cloak when someone approached her.

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Jez, having only returned to Endrykas three days ago, relished in the opportunity to travel through the moving city. Ever moving, he’d had some trouble actually finding this Clan, let alone his pavilion, and hadn’t focused on anything else upon arrival. Now, though, he was settled again and having caught up on events over the past two seasons he wanted to take a journey into the centre and look for familiar faces amongst the market. Atop his fine stallion, the well built Drykas wore fabric trousers and had an open cloak slung over his shoulders. His chest was bared to the air as usual, yet the cloak was an added precaution against the slight chill in the air. His precious necklace sat nestled atop his collarbone, fang of a hunting dog against his skin. Warm eyes looked down at those on foot and he nodded to other riders as he passed. For once, still slightly worn out from their travels, Wind was almost calm. His ears were perked, eyes still full of passion, yet he walked at a fairly steady pace as his rider sat on the yvas around his girth. Upon reaching the tents that made up the marketplace, Jez felt it only polite to dismount and continue on foot, Wind in a perky walk a few paces behind him. He looked around but alas found no familiar faces, so instead chose to browse the collection of goods available. He grinned, waving a hand at the sellers as he passed. The young man looked around, eyebrows drawing together a little. A few tents away it looked as though his half-sister, Rosanna, was also browsing; the confusion came as something looked off about her. He supposed it could be a trick of the light, considering he hadn’t seen any of his pavilion in half a year. Still, Jez made his way over. “Hey,” he called out, voice booming more than necessary for normal conversation yet only full of friendliness and good will. He was almost beside her now, when he noticed that he’d been wrong. She looked smaller, her hair a darker shade and now that he could see it, her face less pointed and sharp than Rosanna’s, and also slightly younger. “Oh I’m sorry,” he grinned, pulling back the hand that was about to touch her shoulder, “I thought you were somebody I knew, but I haven’t seen her in a while so I guess I was mistaken.” ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||

[Nastaran Riverwalker]

Nastaran was handing over the 20GM for the cloak when she heard a man call out a greeting. She gave a short glance around and did not see anyone return the hail. It could not possibly be for her so she smiled at the merchant and accepted the cloak, reveling in its warmth and soft texture. It was then that she felt the presence behind her and saw the merchant smile in greeting. A strong voice spoke and she quickly turned around, offering a smile as she stared up at the Drykas man before her. "No need to apologize. It is the not the first time I have been mistaken for someone else." Nastaran smiled again, "I am Nastaran of the Riverwalker pavilion."

Her eyes did a quick once over, noticing the chest exposed to the chill and the gentle green eyes. Behind him, quickly catching her attention, was a beautiful stallion that could not be mistaken for anything else but a Cyphrus strider. Nastaran offered a smile to the horse and returned her gaze to the man. The strider spoke volumnes for his character and she knew respect must be given even more so now than before.

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ As the stranger turned around Jez could see how mistaken he’d been; though from a distance they looked similar, up close this woman was nothing like his older sister. Their height difference was obvious as she looked up, and he returned her smile with a grin of his own. Too many times had he run into people accidentally who’d wanted nothing to do with him that he was glad to find somebody who seemed friendly on first appearances. He’d met many a merchant whilst travelling Cyphrus over the last two seasons, many of whom had been far too distrusting on his first approach. Only the fact that he belonged to these lands just as much as the nature, from winds blowing over the long grass to glassbeaks that thankfully kept their distance most of the time, and that he always wore a warm hearted smile was able to get them to open up and allow him food and shelter over night. Jez tilted his head in an almost animal like manner when she introduced herself as Nastaran Riverwalker. “I don’t think I’ve heard of the Riverwalker pavilion,” he mused more to himself before addressing her again, “You’re not Amethyst Clan, are you?” He knew most of the pavilions in his own Clan and would be quite surprised to find there was one he’d never heard of. It happened, of course, but nowadays only rarely. “I’m Jez, by the way,” he added, almost as an after thought, “Jez Firetongue, of the Amethyst Clan.” His chest seemed to inflate a little as his head lifted slightly, subtly revealing his pride in where he belonged. The mighty stallion stood behind the young adult had been watching the pair converse carefully. Ears high and dark eyes permanently widened, his constant state looked as though he were about to charge. As Nastaran smiled as him, he lifted his head and snorted derisively, stamping a hoof in impatience. The signal wasn’t missed by his rider, who rolled his eyes and looked over his shoulder. “Don’t be rude, Wind,” his voice contained amusement, showing that he didn’t mean the words harshly at all. Wind’s ears flattened as he gnashed his teeth together once in retaliation at the chastise, before he glanced off to the side. The proud stallion kept his head high, refusing to look as though he were sulking, but Jez laughed it away and turned back to Nastaran. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||

[Nastaran Riverwalker]

Nastaran tilted her head up and smirked, "No, I'm Diamond clan, is that a problem?" She was proud to be in the Diamond clan, the clan of her father. However, she respected the other clans equally and would only jest playfully with them. When he introduced himself she nodded her head in respect, "An honor I'm sure. Have you been in Endrykas long? We have only just arrived." Her thoughts trailed to the tense trip here, the wild creatures that had come forth in the cold and had to be fought off tooth and nail. Dark thoughts that made the companionship of the moving city that much more appealing. Safety, family, friends, good food and a hot fire.

As the horse showed his personality Nastaran laughed and placed one hand on her hip, "He's got spirit. He's a handsome looking strider."

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Jez frowned a little with a small shake of his head. “No, not all all,” he grinned and cocked his head to the side, “Why would it be a problem? It doesn’t matter what clan someone’s in so long as they’re nice.” He believed in the Drykas sticking together, no matter what. In the hostile Sea of Grass if they didn’t have each other then they were just an easy kill for predators, disappearing without a trace. To survive Endrykas relied on relations between pavilions within clans, and the clans sticking together. “That makes sense as to why I haven’t heard of your pavilion,” he nodded, “I was born here, and I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve only left once, a couple of seasons ago; in fact, I only got back a couple of days ago. After spending time outside Endrykas I can see even more the great appeal of seeking shelter here. It certainly is a much easier way of life.” Jez laughed as Nastaran spoke about his strider, admiration for the fine horse in her voice. He shook his head a little at her, half turning to keep both the woman and his mount in view. “Spirit…that’s certainly one way of putting it,” he grinned, “Though within my pavilion we tend to refer to him as a nuisance more than anything; he’s always restless.” As if to prove a point to dun stallion snorted, head shaking as he partially reared and nudged Jez’s shoulder with his forehead. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||

[Nastaran Riverwalker]

Nastaran grinned at his response to her jest, "A fine view point on the matter." His statement was simple but in the vast scheme of things, it was very important. Because of thoughts like that, the union of the clans did not fall apart and a whole people did not fail to survive. Nastaran was proud to be a Drykas and it was people like Jez who reminded her of that fact.

"I envy you. My family tries to spend as much time in Endrykas as we can. We planned on staying here through at least winter but with the pox we worry we might have to leave early. Is it as bad as people say? Certainly it is safer here, even with the pox, than out in the wilderness." There were not many younglings in the Riverwalker pavilion but there were enough elderly that Nastaran worried for the health of her family. However, the pox did not seem as terrifying as some of the things that lurked in the grasses but at least a sword could bite the flesh of a beast.

She laughed as she listened to Jez and watched Wind's reaction to the description. "From what I have seen so far, Jez Firetongue, I assume that you balance each other out. Good for each other. Which is how it should be, I should think." Her own strider, Hansuul was spirited but Nastaran always felt less calm than him and felt like she learned from on a day to day basis. Their bond was still growing but it was already strong.

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Jez sighed when Nastaran mentioned the pox. It was the first time during their conversation that a hint of anything other than good will and happiness graced his features, his lips turning down at the corners and eyes dropping to the floor for a moment. He looked back to the woman as he answered her, ever polite despite the tragedy, “As I said, I’ve only just returned home. I heard rumours of the pox from merchants when I took lodging with them over night, but it seems to be worse than those rumours dictate. I’ve only really been around my pavilion for the last few days, but a few of them seem to be showing symptoms, and I haven’t checked on most of my friends from other Clans yet.” The young man really was worried about what was happening. His pavilion could only tell him what they knew, limited information as they’d been busy preparing for the cold winter on its way. He worried for the few members who appeared slightly sick, especially Kai. As his only full sister and youngest of the family on top of that, it was only natural that he was concerned for the bubble of life that softened the hearts of all residing within the Firetongue tents. A gust of wind shook the tent they were stood before, which luckily kept them mostly sheltered. A few brushes of air escaped the fabric barrier and crept around to blow across his bare skin, causing a small shiver. For a Drykas the fine line between peace and danger of nature was ever present. Suppressing the need to shiver again, he pulled the sides of the cloak further around him to hide most of his skin from the cold air. “Having only ever travelled through Cyphrus, for a short space of time, and never settling in one area, it’s not my place to judge the safety of living there,” he thought out loud, letting her know his opinion on the relative safeties of their living options, “However, I can speak for Endrykas. We’re a community who help one another out, and especially with the pox as a threat we’ll make sure our own are healthy.” He smiled warmly, eyes pools of happy thoughts and proud feelings at the community the Drykas had made within their hostile home lands. His mood brightened and he laughed, “Besides, we don’t have the threat of glass beaks within the city; that’s got to count for something, right?” Even the thought of the huge, mostly carnivorous birds that towered above even a well grown Drykas, could run as fast as a strider and tear the flesh off you without hesitation, was enough to put fear into anyone planning to travel Cyphrus. Jez lifted a hand absently to stroke the side of Wind’s face, the strong steed leaning into his touch gratefully, as Nastaran commented on their connection. A larger grin was put on his face and he replied earnestly. “He’s a great stallion, with enough fire in his soul to never bore me on a ride, nor fail to tire me out. We’ve grown a lot in the three years since our bond formed, and I’m even beginning to straighten out his temper.” Wind had held his head higher, chest out as his rider complimented him. The last comment, however, earned him a reproachful nip in his hair, a slight tug accompanying it just strong enough for the Drykas male to feel. “Well…I said beginning to…” ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||

[Nastaran Riverwalker]

Nastaran immediately regretted bringing up the disease because of the change in Jez's demeanor. The cheerful grin was replaced with sadness that could dampen the most happy person's spirit. "I am sorry for turning you to dark thoughts. I did not mean... I apologize. I wish your family and friends the best of health. The Drykas will survive this dark time. She attempted a strong smile but she could not hide the regret. The Riverwalker family had not faced the pox yet and Nastaran could not yet imagine the fear that many were already experiencing as loved ones were lost around them.

"Then Endrykas is where my family should be. In times of danger, it is with your people you are most safe." Nastaran was relieved to see his smile again and feel the warmth that emitted from him like rays of the sun. He was a true man of Drykas and it warmed Nastaran's heart to be around him and others like him; her people. "It does indeed count for something! I'm certainly glad to be safe from those creatures. She laughed warmly at the antics between horse and rider and shook her head, "I am sure you keep each other busy. I'd love to go riding with you both, if you are willing." Hansuul would welcome the run with such worthy companions.

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Don’t worry; we all have to face dark times and there is no point in trying to run from it,” he smiled gently at her, “and the same to you and your family. So long as we work together the Clans will pull through.” He was glad she decided that their family would be safest here. Now that they were here, there was already the possibility that the pox had struck one of them. Their best chance of survival was to stay where medicine was available to them and other pavilions could support them. Plus, the Sea of Grass was dangerous even at the best of times, let alone in the winter. “Indeed, but it is good to have something to do in looking after him,” he nodded with a grin. His eyes brightened at the prospect of a new riding companion. It was especially hard to come by someone wishing to set some time aside to simply ride during the winter months, what with the many challenges thrown in the way of the Drykas, and he was grateful to each of the friends he was able to spend time with. “It would be a pleasure to go riding with you,” he answered happily. Jez wished to buy some things from the market, but that could wait until later. It was just a few supplies, nothing really of vital importance, so it didn’t fuss the man when he chose to get them. “Are you free now?” he queried, hoping that answer was affirmative. It was always great to go out with Wind, the Strider his closest companion and each ride strengthening their bond. He was also curious about Nastaran’s Strider; he wanted to know what the horse was like, to see how suited to the woman it was, and vice versa. If one couldn’t fully interpret what a person was like, it was always fairly easy to tell their personality by the behaviour of their bonded Strider. After all, each animal was specific to their Drykas. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||